RECOGNIZING TIME AND TALENTS

Volunteers are an important foundation of many nonprofits and bring both skills and resources. Retention of well-trained volunteers increases organizational capacity and efficiency. To retain volunteers, nonprofits must understand what motivates a volunteer, create opportunities for personal growth and development, communicate how volunteers make a difference to the organization, and recognize their time and talents.

United Way Volunteer Awards

Each year, we accept nominations for our United Way Volunteer Awards in December–February and have the public to vote for the winners. We then recognize all finalists at an award ceremony in April. See more details and past winners.

United Way Annual Awards

During our Game Changers event in the spring, we announce winners of the Community Philanthropist Award,Northcott Award, and Young Leaders Award. We accept nominations in December. Learn more about our annual awards.

Other Local Volunteer Awards

Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award

The Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award recognizes volunteers in categories of individual, group, and length of service in increments of five years. Volunteer Iowa recognizes all volunteers at the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award ceremony.

Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame

The Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame is the most prestigious state-level honor volunteers can receive; the people selected are those who have forever changed their community, the state, the nation, or the world.

Daily Points of Light Award

The Daily Point of Light Award celebrates the power of volunteers to spark change and improve the world. A Daily Point of Light embraces the challenge of tackling a community need through volunteer service.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is the premier volunteer awards program, encouraging citizens to live a life of service through presidential gratitude and national recognition.

This month we are highlighting Kids on Course in our Breaking the Cycle of Poverty series! They’re truly making a difference in the lives of youth in our community & are growing every year – learn more about it in one of our most recent blog posts. 📚🏃
http://bit.ly/2HRDsPN

This Saturday is UW Night at the U.S. Cellular Center as @goriverkings take on the IA Barnstormers! A portion of ea… https://t.co/OJUwt93oXu

#WayBackWednesday has us reminiscing on one of last year’s blogs that covers how your company can benefit from building an intentional volunteer program & employee engagement initiative. 🤝
Miss that blog post? Check it out here! http://bit.ly/2HFA3Du